Competition Requirements
The PAR38 category of the L Prize competition has been retooled and relaunched. The new competition requirements include the same performance specifications detailed in the 2007 energy legislation that established the competition. Key changes include:
- Revised domestic content requirements
- Addition of allowable tolerances for technical requirements
- Revisions to allowable luminous intensity distribution
- Requirement that entrants pay for initial photometric testing results conducted by DOE
- Reduction in the number of test lamps required, from 2,000 to 1,000
- Clarification of procedures for handling multiple entries
The new competition requirements supersede the original competition requirements issued in 2008.
Competition Requirements History
The L Prize competition requirements issued in 2008 included technical specifications for the 60-watt and PAR38 categories. The competition requirements were developed to ensure compliance with the general requirements outlined in the 2007 EISA legislation, with additional details specified for quality, performance, and mass manufacturing.
On August 3, 2011, DOE awarded the L Prize for the 60-watt incandescent replacement lamp to Philips Lighting North America. At this time DOE has closed the 60-watt category and will not accept or evaluate further entries in this category.
On January 5, 2011, DOE announced plans to modify the L Prize competition requirements for the PAR38 category, to incorporate lessons learned from the 60-watt competition process. The PAR38 competition was temporarily closed, and reopened in March 2012.
The complete competition requirements for the 21st Century category have not yet been fully defined or published. The 21st Century category is not open for entries at this time. Guidance will be announced by DOE and posted on this website in the future.